You cannot add attachments or photos to your forum messages at this time. However, you have several options for sharing important files with your group:
* Share photos on BigTent. Just sign in and you'll be able to upload photos in a separate photo sharing area. All members can share photos.
* Post photos of buy/sell/trade items in classifieds. Selling a used TV, stroller, bookcase? Sign in, make a classifieds listing and add your photo(s). We have a separate classifieds area to help groups separate their group-wide discussion traffic from buy/sell/trade activity, which usually appeals to a smaller crowd. All members can post classifieds listings, as long as group admins have enabled the classifieds feature for their group.
* Upload files. If you have permissions to add files, you can upload files up to 20 MB apiece in your group's files area - a great place to share PDF copies of your newsletter, group bylaws, and more. Every stored file has a unique download URL so if you want to easily share a file with your group just download the file you just uploaded, copy the URL and share the URL with group members. Clicking on the URL link will instantly download the file.
Showing posts with label Forums. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forums. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Why does a forum topic show more comments than I am able to view?
There are a couple of reasons why the number of comments listed next to a forum topic in the index will show more comments than you are able to view.
If the member who posted the orignal thread posted to multiple groups and you do not share the same group(s), you will not be able to see the comments posted by members of the other group(s).
Also, the comment counter keeps track of private comments posted only to the original forum poster. Group members won't be able to view these comments.
If the member who posted the orignal thread posted to multiple groups and you do not share the same group(s), you will not be able to see the comments posted by members of the other group(s).
Also, the comment counter keeps track of private comments posted only to the original forum poster. Group members won't be able to view these comments.
Why does my post / comment say "me" next to it?
The reason "me" appears next to your comments and topics is just to remind you that it is you who posted the item.
Your profile looks different depending on who is viewing it. You can view how your profile page looks to other members in your group(s) by doing the following:
* Go to settings > personal info.
* Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Update and View Profile."
* On your profile page, click the drop-down box called "How my profile looks to:" and select the desired group or subgroup.
* The page will refresh to show how your profile appears to members of the chosen group.
Your profile looks different depending on who is viewing it. You can view how your profile page looks to other members in your group(s) by doing the following:
* Go to settings > personal info.
* Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Update and View Profile."
* On your profile page, click the drop-down box called "How my profile looks to:" and select the desired group or subgroup.
* The page will refresh to show how your profile appears to members of the chosen group.
What emoticons can I use in forum posts?
Emoticons are a great way to add a little fun to your forum posts. Here's a list of the emoticons you can use on BigTent and how to make them.
:) happy smile
:( frowning face
:P tongue out
;) winking smile
:o surprised smile
Here's what the emoticons will look like in your forum posts:
:) happy smile
:( frowning face
:P tongue out
;) winking smile
:o surprised smile
Here's what the emoticons will look like in your forum posts:
Monday, May 24, 2010
What do the icons in the forums mean?
There are five icons you might see in the forums:
The heart indicates a topic that you have bookmarked or was bookmarked automatically because you posted it.You can edit your bookmarks by going to my bigtent > bookmarks.
The "new" icon indicates that the topic you are viewing is new or has a new comment.
The chili pepper indicates that the forum topic in question has a relatively high number of views and comments, or has been voted "must read" by several members. It is a way to pinpoint which forum topics have the most activity within the forum - your group's "hot topics." If you only have a couple of minutes to see what's new with your group, following the chili pepper is a good place to start.
The star indicates a post that has been voted "timeless wisdom" by your group.
The lock indicates that the topic contains private comments, only visible to you.
The heart indicates a topic that you have bookmarked or was bookmarked automatically because you posted it.You can edit your bookmarks by going to my bigtent > bookmarks.The "new" icon indicates that the topic you are viewing is new or has a new comment.The chili pepper indicates that the forum topic in question has a relatively high number of views and comments, or has been voted "must read" by several members. It is a way to pinpoint which forum topics have the most activity within the forum - your group's "hot topics." If you only have a couple of minutes to see what's new with your group, following the chili pepper is a good place to start.The star indicates a post that has been voted "timeless wisdom" by your group.The lock indicates that the topic contains private comments, only visible to you.Why can't I see my group's forum?
When you set your preferences when first signing up with your group on BigTent, you may have chosen to hide one or more forums by setting your email options for those forums to "None, hidden." This means you will not be able to see these forums online. You can change your settings for forums at any time by going to settings > email options > forums.
If you are unable to view ANY content for your group (forums, news, events, etc.) it is possible that your membership has expired. If you think this is the case, contact one of your group's administrators so that they can invite you to rejoin the group.
If you are unable to view ANY content for your group (forums, news, events, etc.) it is possible that your membership has expired. If you think this is the case, contact one of your group's administrators so that they can invite you to rejoin the group.
How do I participate in forum discussions online or via email?
Learn about different ways to read forum discussions and to post a topic either online or via email.
Jumpstart Instructions
To read and participate in forum discussions:
* Go to my groups > [group name] > forums.
* Click "Start a topic" to start a new discussion.
* Click a topic to read an existing discussion. Scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your comment, if desired.
* If you subscribe to individual forum discussions via email, you'll receive discussions in your inbox, and can usually click "Reply" to add a comment to the discussion.
* Compose a new message to your group's forum email address to start a new discussion via email.
The Nitty Gritty
Reading group discussions
Online:
* Go to my groups > [group name] > forums or go to your group's "buzz" page to view recent topics.
* You can also view forum topics for your group(s) on your "my bigtent" page, where you land when you log in to BigTent. The forum topics (or titles) are links, and you can view the contents of a forum topic by clicking on the title.Titles of messages that have been read are purple, while unread messages have blue titles.
Via Email:
* Receive every topic and comment, every topic, or a daily digest of forum messages in your email inbox.
* To configure these settings, go to settings > email options > forums and check the boxes next to the forums you'd like to receive via email. Then choose "Email every topic and comment" from the drop-down menu and click "Save."
Participating in group discussions
Online:
* There are several ways to start a topic. You can go to my groups > [group name] > forums and click "Start a topic." Or choose "Start a topic" from the Quicklinks drop-down menu.
*If you would like to post a comment on an existing topic, just go to my groups > [group name] > forums and click on a topic. Then scroll to the bottom to enter your comment.
Via Email:
* To post a topic to your group's discussion forum(s), send an email to your group's forum email address(es). You can find this address by going to my groups > [your group] > forums and click on "View forum email address(es)."
*If you want to post a comment to an existing discussion topic, just hit "Reply" to the topic in your email inbox, enter your message, and hit "Send." The topic will appear in your forum (or be sent to the author, depending on your group's forum configuration).
Jumpstart Instructions
To read and participate in forum discussions:
* Go to my groups > [group name] > forums.
* Click "Start a topic" to start a new discussion.
* Click a topic to read an existing discussion. Scroll to the bottom of the page and enter your comment, if desired.
* If you subscribe to individual forum discussions via email, you'll receive discussions in your inbox, and can usually click "Reply" to add a comment to the discussion.
* Compose a new message to your group's forum email address to start a new discussion via email.
The Nitty Gritty
Reading group discussions
Online:
* Go to my groups > [group name] > forums or go to your group's "buzz" page to view recent topics.
* You can also view forum topics for your group(s) on your "my bigtent" page, where you land when you log in to BigTent. The forum topics (or titles) are links, and you can view the contents of a forum topic by clicking on the title.Titles of messages that have been read are purple, while unread messages have blue titles.
Via Email:
* Receive every topic and comment, every topic, or a daily digest of forum messages in your email inbox.
* To configure these settings, go to settings > email options > forums and check the boxes next to the forums you'd like to receive via email. Then choose "Email every topic and comment" from the drop-down menu and click "Save."
Participating in group discussions
Online:
* There are several ways to start a topic. You can go to my groups > [group name] > forums and click "Start a topic." Or choose "Start a topic" from the Quicklinks drop-down menu.
*If you would like to post a comment on an existing topic, just go to my groups > [group name] > forums and click on a topic. Then scroll to the bottom to enter your comment.
Via Email:
* To post a topic to your group's discussion forum(s), send an email to your group's forum email address(es). You can find this address by going to my groups > [your group] > forums and click on "View forum email address(es)."
*If you want to post a comment to an existing discussion topic, just hit "Reply" to the topic in your email inbox, enter your message, and hit "Send." The topic will appear in your forum (or be sent to the author, depending on your group's forum configuration).
How do I edit or delete a forum post?
Once you post a topic or comment, it not only appears in your online forum, but is also emailed to those group members who have selected to receive forum conversations in their inbox. For this reason, you cannot edit your post once it's up (just like you can't take back an email once sent).
However, if you are a group member and want to take down out-of-date topics or comments, you can either flag a message for a group leader to remove, or contact a group leader directly and ask him/her to remove it. To flag a forum topic or comment:
* Click the "flag" checkbox below your post.
* Mark the topic erroneous, off-topic, a solicitation, or inflammatory.
* The message will be available to a group administrator to moderate. He or she will see that you have flagged the message and can delete the message from the Moderator Tools area.
However, if you are a group member and want to take down out-of-date topics or comments, you can either flag a message for a group leader to remove, or contact a group leader directly and ask him/her to remove it. To flag a forum topic or comment:
* Click the "flag" checkbox below your post.
* Mark the topic erroneous, off-topic, a solicitation, or inflammatory.
* The message will be available to a group administrator to moderate. He or she will see that you have flagged the message and can delete the message from the Moderator Tools area.
Overview: Forums
Most groups have one or more discussion forums where members can communicate, share advice and resources, and connect with new members. You can participate via email or online, and you can search for specific topics to take advantage of the wealth of information shared by the group.
How do I participate in discussions?
There are several ways you can participate in forum discussions, either online or via email.
Online
* Go to my groups > [group name] > forums or go to your group's "buzz" page to view recent topics.
* You can also view forum topics for your group(s) on your "my bigtent" page, where you land when you log in to BigTent. The forum topics (or titles) are links, and you can view the contents of a forum topic by clicking on the title.Titles of messages that have been read are purple, while unread messages have blue titles.
* When viewing any discussion, scroll to the bottom to enter your comment. Please note: You will not be able to edit it later.
* To start a new topic, go to the forums tab and click "Start a topic." Or you can choose "Start a Topic" from the "Quicklinks" drop-down.
Via Email
* Choose to receive every topic and comment, every topic, or a daily digest of forum messages in your email inbox.
* To configure these settings, go to settings > email options > forums and check the boxes next to the forums you'd like to receive via email. Then choose "Email every topic and comment" from the drop-down menu and click "Save."
* To post a topic to your group's discussion forum(s), send an email to your group's forum email address(es). You can find this address by going to my groups > [your group] > forums and click on "View forum email address(es)."
* To post a comment to an existing discussion topic, just hit "Reply" to the topic in your email inbox, enter your message, and hit "Send." The topic will appear in your forum (or be sent to the author, depending on your group's forum configuration).
Can I search the forums?
You can search the forums for posts by particular members, during specified date ranges, or with certain keywords.
To search the forums:
* Choose a forum from the drop-down menu to narrow results by a particular forum.
* Type your search terms or tags in the "Keywords" search box.
* Filter by message type ("Topics only" or "Topics and comments").
* Enter a member's name or screenname to search by author.
* Specify a date range, if desired.
* Click "Search."
Make sure to clear your search when you're done by clicking "reset."
Can I be notified of new forum discussions via email?
You have several different options for how you can be updated about new forum discussions and comments. To change your settings, go to settings > email options > forums and check the box next to the forum you wish to change. Then choose one of the following options from the drop-down menu and save your changes. The options are:
* "Email every message and comment" - Get one email per forum topic or comment posted.
* "Email every topic (comments Web-only)" - Get one email per topic. You'll have to go online to see comments.
* "Email daily message digest (topics and comments) - Get one per 25 topics and/or comments posted. If your group has fewer than 25 posts in one day, you'll get a digest at the end of the day with all the topics and comments posted that day.
* "Email daily message digest (topics only) - Get one email per 25 topics. Comments are excluded. This option is ideal for members of groups that have a high volume of messages and who only want a few emails a day. If your group has fewer than 25 topics in one day, you'll get a digest at the end of the day.
* "Include in Blink" - The Blink is a weekly newsletter summarizing updates in your group. Go to settings > email options > BigTent Blink to elect to receive a Blink.
* "Web-Only" - No emails. Choose this if you'd rather read all of your forum messages online.
* "None, hidden" - No emails. Choosing this option will hide the entire forum from your view online.
How do I participate in discussions?
There are several ways you can participate in forum discussions, either online or via email.
Online
* Go to my groups > [group name] > forums or go to your group's "buzz" page to view recent topics.
* You can also view forum topics for your group(s) on your "my bigtent" page, where you land when you log in to BigTent. The forum topics (or titles) are links, and you can view the contents of a forum topic by clicking on the title.Titles of messages that have been read are purple, while unread messages have blue titles.
* When viewing any discussion, scroll to the bottom to enter your comment. Please note: You will not be able to edit it later.
* To start a new topic, go to the forums tab and click "Start a topic." Or you can choose "Start a Topic" from the "Quicklinks" drop-down.
Via Email
* Choose to receive every topic and comment, every topic, or a daily digest of forum messages in your email inbox.
* To configure these settings, go to settings > email options > forums and check the boxes next to the forums you'd like to receive via email. Then choose "Email every topic and comment" from the drop-down menu and click "Save."
* To post a topic to your group's discussion forum(s), send an email to your group's forum email address(es). You can find this address by going to my groups > [your group] > forums and click on "View forum email address(es)."
* To post a comment to an existing discussion topic, just hit "Reply" to the topic in your email inbox, enter your message, and hit "Send." The topic will appear in your forum (or be sent to the author, depending on your group's forum configuration).
Can I search the forums?
You can search the forums for posts by particular members, during specified date ranges, or with certain keywords.
To search the forums:
* Choose a forum from the drop-down menu to narrow results by a particular forum.
* Type your search terms or tags in the "Keywords" search box.
* Filter by message type ("Topics only" or "Topics and comments").
* Enter a member's name or screenname to search by author.
* Specify a date range, if desired.
* Click "Search."
Make sure to clear your search when you're done by clicking "reset."
Can I be notified of new forum discussions via email?
You have several different options for how you can be updated about new forum discussions and comments. To change your settings, go to settings > email options > forums and check the box next to the forum you wish to change. Then choose one of the following options from the drop-down menu and save your changes. The options are:
* "Email every message and comment" - Get one email per forum topic or comment posted.
* "Email every topic (comments Web-only)" - Get one email per topic. You'll have to go online to see comments.
* "Email daily message digest (topics and comments) - Get one per 25 topics and/or comments posted. If your group has fewer than 25 posts in one day, you'll get a digest at the end of the day with all the topics and comments posted that day.
* "Email daily message digest (topics only) - Get one email per 25 topics. Comments are excluded. This option is ideal for members of groups that have a high volume of messages and who only want a few emails a day. If your group has fewer than 25 topics in one day, you'll get a digest at the end of the day.
* "Include in Blink" - The Blink is a weekly newsletter summarizing updates in your group. Go to settings > email options > BigTent Blink to elect to receive a Blink.
* "Web-Only" - No emails. Choose this if you'd rather read all of your forum messages online.
* "None, hidden" - No emails. Choosing this option will hide the entire forum from your view online.
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